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A pleasantly sunny morning on my local patch today, but the cloud built at lunchtime and for the first time in several weeks it actually rained (but only briefly). However, during the morning I managed to see nearly 50 butterflies and 9 species - though for the first time since 25th March I failed to see a Red Admiral. This wasn't a surprise really, as almost all my RA sightings have been in the late afternoon.

I discovered a hidden patch of garlic mustard (which must be on the opposite cycle to most of the plant round here) in the middle of J14 of the M25, and there were several Orange Tips and GVW fussing around it. It will definitely be worth another visit.When the sun went in briefly, I was treated to the males of two different (but similar) species sitting close together.Not long afterwards, I had another "twofer", but they were both Peacocks.It was good to find a couple of Holly Blues today as they have been very sparse this spring.After the rain, I went out again and looked for Orange Tip eggs...There's always something worth looking at, whatever the weather once the season is fully underway. More from the day in my PD - hopefully quite soon.

Dave

No eggs on the cuckoo-flower in eastern Somerset, though it's further advanced than yours, and I've been attended by Orange-tips whilst gardening from the start of the month.

Matsukaze wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 8:14 pm No eggs on the cuckoo-flower in eastern Somerset, though it's further advanced than yours, and I've been attended by Orange-tips whilst gardening from the start of the month.

Curiously, though I found several eggs today of various ages, I have yet to (knowingly) see a female Orange Tip here this year...

Dave

The first of the immigrant Red Admiral have reached Chelmsford with 3 good-looking individuals seen over the past couple of days. And there is activity of an orange kind going on down by the riverbank.

I saw a Red Admiral at the top of a hill in Brighton today, after not seeing one for a while. This one seemed quite fresh and was in quite a hurry, it didn’t strike me at the time but now that David mentions it I suppose it could have been a migrant.

Also still very little OT activity here and in truth even later on in the season in past years there haven’t really been nice numbers of them. May have to go to Hatfield

The good news is that there were 3 Dingy Skipper, quite nicely posing, at the base of the aforementioned Red Admiral hill. More evidence for my (early?)-dingies-like-valleys theory (only the second year I’ve seen them so I’ve got a lot to figure out). Also 2 Peacock, Whites and a curious Ruby Tiger moth. Castle Hill NNR

i was inspired by Millerd's mouthwatering description & pics to visit Incombe Hole today. although the sunshine was limited i did see all four species ( not on one bush though ).

i missed a lovely pic of a Green Hairstreak on white thorn blossom

here are a Grizzled Skipper and a Duke
and a Pasque Flower
Charles

David Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 1:00 pm The first of the immigrant Red Admiral have reached Chelmsford...

They've reached me as well, David. After seeing three of the "old guard" overwinterers two days ago, in the same favoured spots today there were these three much newer ones!Overall I counted five today - one geriatric and four new arrivals. I wonder if I will see the old familiar ones again now? One or two have been out and about since the beginning of March.

As I've mentioned before, there is a theory that immigrant butterflies follow river valleys (suggested to me by Neil Freeman) including my local stream, the Colne. I certainly see Painted Ladies every year, and Clouded Yellows too (even in such poor years as 2024 was), so today's sightings were not surprising in this context.

Aside from the Admirals, today (with its cloud and hazy sunshine) was very much a GVW day, with Orange Tips in second place. To knock Peacocks off the top slot this year is noteable. More in my PD when I catch up...

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 6:49 pm As I've mentioned before, there is a theory that immigrant butterflies follow river valleys (suggested to me by Neil Freeman) including my local stream, the Colne. I certainly see Painted Ladies every year, and Clouded Yellows too (even in such poor years as 2024 was), so today's sightings were not surprising in this context.

Another new arrival today, the fourth Red Admiral in the last three days - a stunning-looking one who found the ivy wall in my local park this afternoon after the rain. I am not sure the theory applies to the arrival of these Red Admiral, Dave. I would have thought these ones flew high over the white cliffs of Dover, without stopping in Kent [which is understandable ], to come straight to the abundant, large patches of lush, nettles Urtica dioica we have here. The habitats in the floodplains of the River Chelmer are sought out by the most discerning Red Admiral - the overnight rain has made the nettles grow from shin-high to knee-high in the past 24-hours:
And in the Meadgate Fields Open Space Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, Nettles, & Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata, there were some butterflies hiding:
Before taking to flight during the intermittent spells of sunshine we had later in the day:
A Green-veined White and a Speckled Wood also came out to have a look after the rain left - both looking freshly emerged. I didn't get many photographs.

Two days and counting after the date Holly Blue were first seen last year, my search of the holly and ivy hot spots was in vain - its close, I can feel it - somewhere in here:
I am starting to get a little concerned considering the warm weather and days of full sun. Parasitism from the wasp Listrodromus nycthemerus which seemed to devastate 2024's second brood locally may well have decimated numbers this spring in Chelmsford. But then I have not seen my first Holly Blue anywhere despite miles of walking and hours of searching for butterflies.

Red Admiral been flying around our garden today Also had the chance for a close-up photo of a Green-veined White in our garden, such beautiful detail on there wings. Still no Speckled Wood or Holly Blue, hope they will appear in the next week here going by previous years.
7 garden species so far this year.

Julian

David Lazarus wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 5:40 pm I am starting to get a little concerned considering the warm weather and days of full sun. Parasitism from the wasp Listrodromus nycthemerus which seemed to devastate 2024's second brood locally may well have decimated numbers this spring in Chelmsford. But then I have not seen my first Holly Blue anywhere despite miles of walking and hours of searching for butterflies.

I am in a similar position with regard to Holly Blues, David. For many years, I have had an abundance of the species in both main broods, plus a significant third brood lasting into November. However, last summer was different, with a very light second brood and a virtually non-existent third one. Following on, this spring has seen the lowest numbers I have ever seen - I've counted a mere dozen so far, a number far exceeded on one day several times in April and May 2022 for example. My fingers are firmly crossed for the summer brood...

Dave

The day started with a very chilly drizzle, but come the afternoon, it had become quite warm and humid, with a hint of thunder. However, actual sunshine was in short supply, but I wandered out in hope of seeing something. As luck would have it, the briefest of sunny intervals coincided with me passing a nectaring Orange Tip.I then spotted first a Large White, and then a fresh Red Admiral (likely one of those seen yesterday as it was in the same spot), and finally a Speckled Wood decided to perch just above my head.Four butterflies, four species - and then it rained again, and the covers were on for the rest of the day.

Dave

At Mill Hill, West Sussex today a Wall Brown female, and a surprise Small Heath just as I was about to leave! Also Dingy Skipper, fresh Red Admiral, Brimstone, Large White, Whites, Peacock, Speckled Wood

Wall Brown & Small Heath!

Impressive, Zayed.

Despite the blustery weather - number 32 sighting in the River Chelmer floodplain:
Inching towards the target of 50 for 2025 - I will have to repeat the 7 mile section of the river I did today because the weather was not conducive to butterfly activity. Despite that, probably a couple more Small Tortoiseshell but the gales made identification difficult - disturbing a butterfly that passes your hat in the wind at 35 mph and disappears by the time you turn round is tricky.

Also, a couple more new arrivals - some splendid looking Red Admiral that are too shy to approach.

I passed the Green-veined White hotspot, so much agricultural Brassica escapees I think it is going to be a mega-summer brood and no doubt another third brood of 30-40 individuals during late September-October. Today though, they were mostly hidden in the reeds and tall herbs along the riverbank like this:
with a single one braving the elements:
Earlier, I had been at Lingwood Common & the Danbury Ridge Nature Reserves sheltering in the woods from the wind searching for my first Holly Blue of 2025 - struck out again

I only came across a Peacock, Green-veined White, and an Orange-tip realising it was a little too windy to attempt a flight:
Near the end of a 12 mile walk from Danbury along the River Chelmer to Baddow Meads and home, the late-afternoon sunbathers [Peacocks & Commas] were the only ones left:
It was surprising how many butterflies were braving the weather. A four hour afternoon hike resulted in 35 sightings plus 3 or 4 that were impossible to give a definite identification:

Green-veined White 7
Orange-tip 1
Red Admiral 2
Small Tortoiseshell 1 (3)
Peacock 20
Comma 3
Speckled Wood 1

Peacock are definitely having one of their better spring turn outs. I am now up to 748 sightings during 2025, with 143 of those local. 7 Green-veined White during gales - there are probably 50+ along the riverbanks at the moment. I only saw 7 overwintering Red Admirals up to the beginning of April - only 1 of which was local. I have now seen 6 immigrants during the last 3 days. I might manage a photograph of the beauties soon.

Red Admiral flying around our garden this evening And sad news, one of our Large White pupa is getting a bit of interest from a parasitoid wasp

After all the chat about a lack of Holly Blues this spring, the first butterfly I saw at lunchtime today was a male Holly Blue sheltering from the wind in a privet hedge.After the one shower this morning here (which blew in out of nowhere from the southwest and was gone just as quickly), the wind was accompanied by lengthy spells of strong sunshine. Surprisingly, it was the smaller, lest robust, butterflies that were out in the highest numbers braving the gusts, with GVW and Orange Tip both well into double figures. These included my first female OT of the year.By three o'clock I'd seen around 60 butterflies of 10 species.

Dave

Thursday 17th, Cwm Ivy & Whiteford Burrows, Gower:

Orange Tip 25-30 (including a mating pair)
Speckled Wood 15-20
Red Admiral 7
Large White 5
Peacock 3
Green Veined White 3
Brimstone 2
Holly Blue 1
Brown Argus 1

I started the day at Denbies in brilliant sunshine again, and the first three butterflies I saw were Small Heaths, my first of the season.There were also decent numbers of Green Hairstreaks, Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers, but all were much more widespread than they were last week.I caught these two having one of their barneys...The cloud built, but it was still clear to the south, so I headed home the long way round via Chiddingfold Forest. This also avoided the horrendous traffic on the M25... I walked from the Botany Bay entrance right through to Oaken Wood and back, and to start with saw just Brimstones, GVW and Peacocks. I then spotted the characteristic plodding but relentless flight of a Wood White. I managed a distant shot, enough to positively ID it, but nothing better - the saw another, even more distant. As I wandered back a spot of white at the side of the path caught my eye - a newly emerged Wood White which because of its recent arrival in the world wasn't going anywhere yet.After a few photos, I carried on and saw another in flight a little further on, but that one wasn't stopping at all.

Dave

millerd wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 7:37 pm I started the day at Denbies in brilliant sunshine again, and the first three butterflies I saw were Small Heaths. There were also decent numbers of Green Hairstreaks, Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers .... As I wandered back a spot of white at the side of the path caught my eye - a newly emerged Wood White which because of its recent arrival in the world wasn't going anywhere yet.

Very impressive day out, Dave, to say the least. I thought I had a good day out.

Over 150 recorded sightings at Langdon Hills Country Park yesterday, with whites making up 2/3rds of them. Female Brimstone in good numbers for the first time this year at Northlands Wood, and an Orange-tip ovipositing in Willow Park:
Highlights, while searching for the [endangered in Essex] Grizzled Skipper, were my first grassland specialists Small Copper, Small Heath - and a Latticed Heath just to make the search more challenging. The Small Copper was recently emerged and still drying itself off in the late afternoon sun:
And still lots of Green-veined White action going on down in the woods - this one was a swift rejection:

At Harrow Lodge Park yesterday, 2 Orange-tip, 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortie, many GVW with many ovipositing, 2 Brimstone, 2 Large White, a handful of Peacock, 2 Holly Blue, many Speckled Wood. No GH seen although I didn’t search in their area when it was sunny.